Jeep Wrangler

mac24

Here you go:



Looks interesting but I wonder if wind noise will be an issue. Pavement Ends make a similar one but I think you have put the removable section inside.

mullins87

Are these two trannies interchangable? If so, I'd rather have the AX-15.

Back to the rebuild. I found a supposedly "complete" rebuild kit online for $198. But, this kit does not include the synchro's or key/keys that mine are most likely in need of. Does anyone have an idea of what these would cost?

I don't have any problem attempting a rebuild. I have never done anything like this before, but I consider myself to be a fairly perceptive DIY'er with a decently equipped garage. But, if I'll only save around $300, then the rebuilt unit is an attractive choice. However, saving $1,000 would be no contest, plus I'd gain some invaluable experience in the process. Tom, the FSM manual you let me use is in .pdf format. I don't have that on my 'puter. I'll have to download it somewhere before I can look at it. Does this FSM have all the tolerances and specialized info included? The only tool I can think of that I might need would be a different sized/shape puller than the three I already have.

Anyway, back to the original question: Will the two swap out with no problems?

mac24

Here's a link to download Adobe Acrobat 6.0, which is the free PDF reader you need.

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

I don't know if the AX-5 can be interchanged with the AX-15, but the supplier of your parts should be able to tell you. I'm not sure it would give you any real advantage behind an 2.5 though. The AX-5 doesn't have any more of a bad rep than the AX-15. I would expect to pay around $20 each for syncro rings.

tsjay

I loaned you that FSM, because it has the AX-5 tranny info in it. It won't have the AX-15, since they had gone to the NV3550 by 01.

Just give it back to me next time we hook up, and I will take it home and print out the AX-5 stuff for ya.

Or, I think you could download the right program from the Net, and maybe it will even be free... some of that stuff is free.

Don't know if the AX-15 will swap right in or not. Good chance it would, I think.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

tsjay

Thanks! Your post must have appeared as I was typing mine.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

mtngal

That isn't quite what I thought I had read about, but I really like that one. It would be great for half doors, but doesn't look like it would be any easier to store than the regular hard top. I was kind of hoping that someone would come out with one that would come in enough pieces that it could be easily stored in a shed (or under the house). Oh well, guess I'll just have to win the lottery so I can build a garage. Thanks for the info!

geepers

I looked a little further and the AX-5 and AX-15 have different splines so it doesn't look like a direct swap would be possible. Here's a nice site with good info on both. Perhaps they might provide some advice for you.

http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/transmission_gateway.htm

Gary

mullins87

Thanks for the link, it answered my question. The overall dimensions are the same, but the input shaft and transfer case shafts are different. Again, thanks.

They talk about the AX-5 being a minimal tranny. That concerns me a little considering this Jeep will spend more time off-road and on. But, unless I start to mod the engine, which I have no plans to do at this point, maybe I'll be OK.

Mac, thanks for the adobe link and info on the synchro's. Am I correct in assuming a five speed has five synchro's? Or would it be six, because of reverse? And what about the "key" in fifth gear? The guy I bought it from thought the "key" in fifth gear was broken. Is there only one "key" in these trannies? Or are there "keys" for each gear?

larry18

Great article on offroading in today's online copy of USAToday.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/vacations/destinations/2003/2003-1- 0-10-suv.htm

Check it out!

twylie

I remember reading that DC was exploring a modular hard top for an upcoming version of the Wrangelr, but I haven't seen any aftermarket versions of the same concept. I'm guessing it could be kind of like Ikea furniture in that it fits in a small flat stack when undone, but could be clipped or locked together when on the Jeep. It's a neat idea, but not sure where anyone is with it. Maybe 5 or 7 pieces?

-twylie

texasjeep

comanche_aj
Tell your father to take his Jeep up the backside of Lions back if he wants a challenge. He saves the $5 going that way also. I wish I had the directions and description handy. I am not sure I would ever go that way. I do plan on driving up the front of it when I make it out there.

mtngal- modular hardtop
I thought this top was suppose to be out in '07 when a lot of changes to the wrangler are happening for the latest saftey laws. They are suppose to no longer offer the softop also. That is what I heard last.

Lugnuts
I always recheck my lug nuts when I get back home or within a week from the tire shop to make sure I can get them off.

twylie

Good article. Thanks for the link. I wonder how many more of these "scenery/history not carnage" 4 wheeling outings you'll start to see.

-twylie

mac24

Reverse gear is semi synchronized, which means it has an oddball synchro ring and isn't as well synchronized as the other gears. It should be treated as unsynchronized in use, and I'd wait to see its condition before replacing it.

Fifth gears, like all the gears, locate on their shafts with splines, not keyways. My guess would be that either a snap ring has come off and allowed a gear to move out of alignment and just 'float' on its shaft, or it's a problem with the fifth gear fork becoming loose on its rail. I think that the guy you bought it from was making an optimistic guess about something he had little knowledge of.

You'll find the information in the FSM to be very complete. While it's nice to have all the replacement parts sitting on the bench ready to go, you won't actually know what parts will be finally be required until you have it torn down. I'd study the manual, then strip the transmission slowly (keeping thing as clean as is possible), and photograph things as you go, if you can. Then decide what can stay and what has to go.

Bear in mind that this a mainly offroad vehicle. No point in replacing all the bearings if only one is bad, but you do want all the synchros working. Doesn't matter too much if some of the gears show a little wear are noisy, or if reverse has a few chips. This is not what I'd advise for a daily driver though, for obvious reasons.

comanche_aj

yes its true that i work for jks, and it is my dad's company. he invented nearly all the parts we sell, but i dont care to work for him much cuz he's my dad and we dont get allong great. were average, but if we talk at all, its when im in trouble or how my friends are in trouble. and sorry, we already have "average joe"'s out there testing our stuff, one of them me. others are our friends who run Dimension Off-road, ORGS, MORE, DPG off-road, and Chimney Canyon 4x4. recently we all got together and went "wheeling" in the black hills of south dakota, we had a lot of fun and stuff. thats great that you like our products, but if you want to tell us how great they are, you can e-mail my dad by going to www.jksmfg.com . -ajjjjjjjjj

mullins87

I think the guy was being awfully optimistic too. If it were such an "easy and cheap" fix, then why didn't he fix it and sell the Jeep for considerably more than what I paid him? When I bought it, I made sure that I could replace/rebuild the tranny and still only have roughly the same amount of money in it. I almost always assume worse case scenario when buying anything that has problems.

twylie

I saw a 2.5 w/ AX5 on another board. The guy in CA, so you'd have to figure out how much shipping it would be, but he's asking $200 complete. It had 90k and said it was fine when he pulled it recently. Might be worth considering. I think Forward Air is suppose to have good pallet shipping rates. email me treywylieatyahoodotcom if you want the link to the sale.

-twylie

tsjay

Met Jim and his three year old son, Barret, at Turkey Bay today at a little after 9 AM. We wheeled until Barret was getting real tired, and left around 2 PM or so.

Jim did real well and tried some things he didn't want to try the first time he wheeled, which was last Saturday. Both Jim and that pretty red YJ did a fine job today.

You can see some pics at http://itsajeep.org in the photo gallery.

(Well, they ain't there yet... gonna do that right now, though).

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

mullins87

Tom, Barrett and I had a great day at Turkey Bay. The weather was perfect, the trees are beginning to get some color to them and a Jeep club provided some lunchtime entertainment for us. One guy drove a nearly new Grand Cherokee Limited off into a mud flat and immediately got stuck. He almost pulled his front bumper cover off trying to get out. Meanwhile, a lady in a Rubicon with 35" to 38" inch tires decided to dive off into the same mud flat, only she tried the deep end first. She didn't do to bad for the first five seconds. Then she proceeded to bury it and almost turn it over trying to get out. She would have gotten out if it hadn't been for the incline coming out and the extreme lean angle.

Anyway, that basically stock YJ of mine really surprised me. It did a few things that I really didn't expect it to do so easily. I did get the wheels off the ground though. But, as usual, I left the nasty stuff to Tom. Barrett, age 3, did really well. In fact, he was enjoying the scenary so much that he pointed out a small box turtle that was scampering out of our way. But as 3 year olds tend to do, he wore out fairly early in the day and actually fell asleep bouncing down the side of a ridge.

Hey Trey, I hear you are going to join us.

tsjay

A turtle scampered out of our way???

That reminds me of the wreck two turtles had at a trail intersection. They were each telling the cop that it was the other one's fault. The cop saw a snail and asked him if he could say what actually happened. The snail said, "No sir, it all happened so fast."

You did great today, Jim!

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

thebigkahuna

Tom, I've always loved your jokes!

tsjay

'Bout time we heard from you! Where ya been so long?

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

mullins87

he WAS scampering!!!! I liked the joke too.

You'll never guess what my wife said today. "If we can find someone to watch the boys Saturday, I'm going with you." Tom, she really liked the pictures you took. She may actually like it.

I would have had that back seat tonight, but my connection hiccupped and I didn't get my last bid in. Dagnabit! Oh well, there will be others.

tsjay

Too bad on the back seat deal!

Like you said, there will be others. Any news on the tranny yet? Did ya get a chance to check out that rebuilder you mentioned to me Saturday?

Get yer spare back yet?

That's super that Janna liked the pics and wants to go with ya!!!! I was hoping this would become a family thing for ya, and I mean THE WHOLE FAMILY. Jeepin' can be a great thing for the entire family. Ain't a whole lot of things in this world that are fun for the whole family... seems like each family member has his/her "own thing" any more, and the entire family does very few things together. When they do, at least one or two family members are just there cause they have to be, not because they want to be. Jeepin' can be something that each and every family member can really put his/her heart into.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

mtngal

That article was interesting - I'd love to go on a trip like that. I don't know if that is a reflection of the times to come or not - it seems like I'm seeing fewer, not more people out in the areas I travel around here (could be more a reflection of the rather remote, unadvertised, section of the world I live in).

However, this weekend might have changed my mind a bit. Here it is October, supposed to be off season, and we were up by Hetch Hetchy Reservoir (yes, that really is the name and it is a real spot on the map) in Yosemite National Park. While I wasn't expecting to be the only person there, I was surprised to see as many people as there were up there. While the area is lovely, it isn't exactly well known. So perhaps more people really are getting out and explore the great outdoors.

stever

It'd probably be better known as Yosemite Valley's rival if it weren't inundated...

Steve, Host

tsjay

Hey, Old Alan (remember eARS?) is coming to wheel with me this weekend! He's gonna drive ten hours one way from Joplin, MO, to wheel with the old Tomster at Turkey Bay. Twylie is gonna try to make it too, but he isn't sure he will be able to. He would have about a six hour drive up from Atlanta. We're supposed to wheel Saturday and Sunday.

The long range weather forecast sounds good at this point, and the leaf color oughta be just about peak for the weekend.

Jim said he is gonna try to make it back to TB this Saturday too... might even have the Little Woman with him.

How bout the rest of ya? Any of you that live within a few hours of here, just BRING IT ON!

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

mtngal

I've heard that Hetch Hetchy was fabulous before they built the dam. Even with the dam it is still quite impressive. A few years ago there was a movement to get them to remove the dam, but it died. At the moment they are doing some improvements to improve the water - it is one of San Francisco's main water supplies.

Tom - if only I lived closer to you, I'd be there in a heartbeat! It sounds like great fun, so I hope that the weather holds for you. I'm envious!

comanche_aj

my jeep has a very slow oil leakage problem, from just behind the oil pan. its not the plug, i've checked that, but get this: it never leaks after the engine has been running for 5 minutes, it could sit there and leak all day, but start it and drive it to work and show a colleague and they think you're crazy cuz the oil isn't leaking any more. is there a gasket between the oil pan and the engine block that could be worn out or what? -ajjjjjjjjj

tsjay

Rear main seal??? Don't even know which engine you have in that puppy, but the location of the leak sounds like it could be the rear main.

Could it be leaking from the valve cover and running down the back of the engine? That would be much better than a rear main leaking.

Mac?

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

mac24

Tom, the locations suggest those possibilities but the symptoms don't. It apparently leaks all day with the engine off but there's no accumulation of oil at either of those two locations.

If it was oil that was spraying out while the engine was running, then dripping down while it was off, it would still be dripping while the engine ran.

Easiest way to find a leak like that is to start with a clean engine.

mullins87

Give that puppy a GOOD cleaning. Then you should be able to trace the oil back to the leak. I would think a main would leak while the engine is running, but stop once the oil drained into the pan. How far up on the pan sides is the oil while the engine is shut off?

erickpl

On my 2.5l TJ, I had a valve cover leak. When I bought the car, the engine bay was COVERED in dirt, so I couldn't tell if it was a current leak or an old leak or just spillage.

I cleaned the engine with an engine cleaner and let it sit a day. Then I drove it. The leak appeared to be coming from the oil pan, but following it up, I found the leak in the back of the valve cover (some knothead hadn't even tightened the bolts). I resealed it and tightened to spec (55 in/lbs I think). No problems with an oil leak any more. And it did drip after not running. Oil had accumulated higher up on the engine somewhere and dripped later. So it is worth it to at least check it out and rule that out. It is a simple and easy fix, even if you have to take off a few things to get to the valve cover.

-Paul

erickpl

Tom, your Turkey Bay trip sounded great. Like mtngal, I'm in CA and would love to join ya. Maybe next time I go to Huntsville on business I can stay a weekend and hookup with ya.

This past weekend, we had a boy scout campout. We had a helo take us up to the top of a mountain for our open air camping. Coming down was a wicked trail that many jeeps have come up. There was a lot of BIG ruts, severe inclines, narrow passes, slick rock, etc on a 2 mile trail that climbs up over 2000 feet in that 2 mile distance. We hiked the 16 boys down that trail.

I would LOVE to take a Wrangler on that. Problem is, if you mess up on that trail, you could very easily careen into a DEEP valley. There was a rusted out old Willy's jeep that didn't make it in one of those ravines. You would definitely need all terrains on that trail with a lower tire pressure. I didn't feel comfortable taking my Grand Cherokee with street tires on that trail, though with its Quadra drive, I'm sure could make it with the right tires. Wish I had pics of some of the jeeps taking the trail... TJ's YJ's... *sigh*

This weekend though is my anniversary so my wife and I are going to Hawaii. I've rented a Wrangler.

-Paul

embeeduece

After more than a month of waiting, my Jeep was finally delivered. A 2004 Silver Sport. I would have posted sooner, but as you can imagine, I spent the weekend driving all over the place.

I'm really happy with my purchase, and the advice of this group proved invaluable.

If I can get my hands on a digital camera, I'll post some pics.

Thanks, Mike

erickpl

Congrats on your new Sport!

I have a 97 TJ that is my daughter's daily car, but I'm seriously considering another wrangler as my 'beater' so I don't rack up the miles on my other two cars.

I have to admit, listening to Tom talk about the wheeling and seeing the trails I was hiking on this weekend, I think I'm getting the Jeep Fever.

Maybe my trip this weekend will cure that.

Probly not... guess that is why I rented one. hehe

-Paul

mtngal

Congrats, Mike, on the new Wrangler - sounds great. Definitely get some photos if you can - we always like to see new rigs. Did you get anything extra on that Sport?

Paul - You are just now figuring out that you have Wrangler fever? From the sounds of things you've had it for a while! Just think about how much fun you can have in the mountains. Sunday as we came back from the Sierras we stopped at Costco (Bakersfield) and picked up a book on SUV trails on the west side of the Sierras. There are such wonderful sounding trails - I can't wait to go back up that direction. Next time we go I'll insist on taking the Wranger, regardless of the cost of gas!

comanche_aj

my jeep comanche has a 4.0litre high output inline 6 cylinder engine. the oil has a drippage of maybe a quart every two weeks, which amounts to a dozen or so drops a day, i mean really slow leak. i'll give it a good cleaning and trace the leak like you say, but im not sure i want to dismantle my engine much to fix it, so im hopeing for the best. but as mac said, the symtoms dont suggest that the rear main is the problem or an accumulation near the top...my assumption that it may be a gasket is based on the fact that gaskets expand when they get warm (when the engine is running) therefore keeping the oil in, and when the gaskets cool down while im not driving it, they shrink and allow a small amount of oil to pass...is that a logical reason? and can anyone tell me what two-stage oil is, my girlfriend asked me to check her oil when i told her about it, then she handed me this bottle of two-stage oil...is that the same thing, will it work, or do i need to drop the pan and change her oil entirely now? -ajjjjjjjjj

erickpl

I guess I was in denial about it. But the more I spend around Jeeps, the more I want to add a 4.0l Wrangler to my stable.

Just seeing those trails this weekend made me want to steal my friend's Sport and go at em. heheh

The trails I'm talking about are just north of Mojave and the 'new' section of hiway 58 that just opened. If you look up that way, you can see a trail heading to the top. That is the one!

-Paul

geepers

The Rand Mountains that run roughly between Cal City and Randsburg are fun. From Cal City head out towards the Silver Saddle Club and then up into the mountains. You could putt around all day up there. It's been some time since I've been there, not sure if it's still the Silver Saddle Club.

Gary

erickpl

That sure sounds like the area... though where I'm thinking off is just north of the cutoff and almost due west of Cal City.

-Paul

geepers

Well Paul from just a speedy search, it looks as though the BLM might have closed the Rand area anyway. Looks like too many people disregarded the signs about where to travel (stay on designated tracks) and have once again ruined it for everyone. This area is northeast of Cal City so not where you're talking about. Sure you'll find some places to go where you're headed.

texasjeep

Seatbelts for dogs-
Not sure if you seen these or not Tom but I stumpled arcross it and thought i would pass it along.
http://www.muttslinger.com/whatis.html
http://www.ultimate4wheeldriveperformance.com/muttslinger.htm

Paul,
I having been wheeling with several quadra drive grands. I like seeing them tackling the same obstacles. I think they both run 4" lifts now. One of them sent me a picture last year pulling out a H2 when they were on a snow run.

mtngal

I've wandered around that area a bit, but not much and not recently. Last time I went by there was still a sign for Silver Saddle Club, so it is still there.

I know that they closed part of that area and made it into a desert tortoise preserve, but that was a long time ago. Are you talking about that area or are you closer to Randsburg? I'm actually more familiar with the area further east - Barstow to 4 Corners. Always looking for a way around 4 Corners at the end of a 3 day weekend!

The first time I went off-roading in a vehicle not owned by the US Army was in an almost brand new Grand Cherokee. The guy who owned it got it stuck and my husband ended up getting it out. But somehow it isn't the same - the Wrangler is so much more fun somehow. Can't explain it, but it just is.

tsjay

Thanks for the links.

Guess old Ross Allen does fine just riding in the back. I make him get out and have someone babysit him when I go through anything that's risky for him.

Wish you could get into Gill's for some chatting! When ya gonna get set up for that?

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

erickpl

Yeah, the area I was at was a bit further west of cal city, so not the closed area. It is public land and people there were staying on the trails, so hopefully it will go well and we can go there again.

As for wheeling the grand, as long as I get some decent all terrains I'll feel more comfortable doing it. I doubt she'll let me do a lift on it. She's only 5'1" and she doesn't want nerfs or steps. Hmmm.. maybe a trampoline.

I agree, mtn, that a Wrangler has that more rugged feeling to it. It is more exhilarating because the grand is very cushy inside. Makes me feel like Thurston Howell on Gilligan's Island, but with a CD player.

That's why my Hawaii trip includes a Wrangler and not a Grand.

-Paul

erickpl

I found a 1999 TJ Sport:
black, 5spd, 37k miles
Steelhorse tubular bumpers front and rear
Canyon wheels
hard top only
hard top winch setup
bikini top
Yakima racks and hitch

14,500

The body looks in great shape and I'm looking into its maintenance history. Sound interesting?

-Paul

comanche_aj

can anyone give me advice on my previously posted message #10528? i dont want to seem like such a dumb high-schooler infront of her dad, so i need help, please! -ajjjjjjj

tsjay

Sorry, dude, but I have never heard of two stage oil.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

mac24

Never heard of it! Who makes it?

tidester

Amsoil makes an AIR filter that they call "Two Stage Air Filter" which uses 2 layers of oil wetted foam. I have no idea what "two stage oil" would be.

tidester, host